Hazardous Materials Removal Worker salary in the U.S.
Hazardous Materials Removal Workers in the U.S. earn a median of $49,450 a year ($23.78 an hour), based on BLS data for 51,710 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $82,410 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $56,430, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for hazardous materials removal workers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,460 | $18.49 |
| 25th percentile | $44,720 | $21.50 |
| Median | $49,450 | $23.78 |
| 75th percentile | $61,530 | $29.58 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $82,410 | $39.62 |
| Average (mean) | $56,430 | $27.13 |
Half of hazardous materials removal workers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,120.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,060.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,901.92 |
| Weekly | $950.96 |
| Hourly | $23.78 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Hazardous Materials Removal Worker salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $73,090 | 4,090 |
| Illinois | $61,330 | 1,980 |
| Alaska | $60,320 | 140 |
| District of Columbia | $60,240 | 50 |
| North Dakota | $60,160 | 170 |
| Washington | $60,160 | 3,250 |
| Tennessee | $60,090 | 570 |
| Colorado | $59,920 | 1,400 |
| Missouri | $59,120 | 370 |
| Minnesota | $59,100 | 730 |
| Hawaii | $58,440 | 340 |
| California | $56,120 | 7,340 |
| New Jersey | $55,900 | 2,250 |
| New Hampshire | $55,310 | 140 |
| Montana | $54,540 | 250 |
| New Mexico | $53,440 | 680 |
| South Dakota | $51,420 | 190 |
| Arizona | $50,530 | 800 |
| Iowa | $49,870 | 270 |
| Oregon | $49,720 | 1,130 |
| Idaho | $49,710 | 600 |
| Massachusetts | $49,620 | 2,770 |
| Utah | $49,240 | 530 |
| South Carolina | $49,170 | 870 |
| Georgia | $48,960 | 460 |
| Maryland | $48,640 | 660 |
| Wyoming | $48,570 | 30 |
| Nebraska | $48,540 | 210 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,860 | 1,590 |
| Wisconsin | $47,750 | 590 |
| Kentucky | $47,640 | 460 |
| Nevada | $47,520 | 400 |
| Maine | $47,280 | 190 |
| Connecticut | $47,090 | 750 |
| Vermont | $46,780 | 70 |
| Indiana | $46,680 | 990 |
| Rhode Island | $46,670 | 330 |
| Ohio | $46,620 | 830 |
| West Virginia | $46,390 | 130 |
| Michigan | $46,380 | 1,610 |
| Kansas | $45,530 | 480 |
| Virginia | $45,320 | 930 |
| Texas | $44,390 | 4,450 |
| Oklahoma | $44,300 | 650 |
| Delaware | $44,250 | n/a |
| North Carolina | $43,180 | 1,250 |
| Florida | $42,350 | 1,780 |
| Mississippi | $39,440 | 250 |
| Alabama | $38,610 | 350 |
| Louisiana | $38,000 | 880 |
| Arkansas | $36,630 | 440 |
| Puerto Rico | $28,220 | 180 |
Best-paying metro areas for hazardous materials removal workers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $104,530 | 720 |
| Pueblo, CO | $79,260 | 70 |
| Amarillo, TX | $77,580 | 120 |
| Knoxville, TN | $75,280 | 230 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $74,060 | 3,770 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $67,010 | 300 |
| Binghamton, NY | $62,090 | 50 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $61,330 | 1,580 |
| Warner Robins, GA | $61,170 | 50 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $60,390 | 310 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $60,390 | 250 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $60,290 | 1,620 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $60,260 | 930 |
| Bellingham, WA | $59,720 | 40 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $59,700 | 350 |
Metro areas with the most hazardous materials removal workers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 3,770 | $74,060 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 2,470 | $51,160 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,980 | $49,930 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 1,620 | $60,290 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 1,580 | $61,330 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 1,410 | $44,420 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 1,410 | $59,580 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 1,280 | $43,200 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 930 | $60,260 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 890 | $49,130 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 840 | $46,380 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 840 | $49,950 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 720 | $104,530 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 680 | $50,530 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 670 | $51,790 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $50,260 | $24.16 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $74,690 | $35.91 |
| Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | $49,880 | $23.98 |
| Miscellaneous Construction and Related Workers | $49,910 | $24.00 |
| Fence Erector | $47,980 | $23.07 |
| Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers | $109,910 | $52.84 |
| Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators | $70,070 | $33.69 |
| Construction Laborer | $47,120 | $22.66 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $79,920 | $38.42 |
| Electrician | $63,190 | $30.38 |
| Carpenter | $60,580 | $29.12 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $59,850 | $28.78 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $63,800 | $30.67 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $49,400 | $23.75 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 47-4041. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a hazardous materials removal worker make in the U.S.?
The median salary for hazardous materials removal workers in the U.S. is $49,450 a year, or $23.78 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $82,410 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid hazardous materials removal workers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of hazardous materials removal workers in the U.S. earn at least $82,410 a year. The top 25% earn $61,530 or more.
What is the starting pay for hazardous materials removal workers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,460 a year, and a quarter of hazardous materials removal workers earn $44,720 or less.
How many hazardous materials removal workers work in the U.S.?
About 51,710 hazardous materials removal workers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.